Carburetor control switch for vehicle signal lights



Feb. 22, 1966 T. R. SCHLITZ 3,236,962

CARBURETOR CONTROL SWITCH FOR VEHICLE SIGNAL LIGHTS Filed Nov. 19, 1963INVENTOR THOMAS H; SCHL/TZ United States Patent 3,236,962 CARBURETORCONTROL SWITCH FOR VEHICLE SIGNAL LIGHTS Thomas R. Schlitz, 30 MertzAve., Hillside 5, NJ. Filed Nov. 19, 1963, Ser. No. 324,801 1 Claim.(Cl. ZOO-61.89)

This invention relates to a device for electrically completing thecircuitry to vehicle brake lights, and more specifically relates to aswitch for association with conventional carburetor controls.

The principal objective of this invention is to provide a means toactuate vehicle brake lights when the vehicle carburetor is at idlingposition or near idling position regardless of the positions of thebrake and accelerator pedals.

Another important objective of this invention is to provide a switchwhich is adjustably mounted near the carburetor control arm such that itis easily adjusted as to its capability of light turn-on withoutinterfering with the carburetor idling adjustment mechanism.

A still further objective of this invention is to provide a rugged,simplified, and uncomplicated switching device for the above describedobjectives.

These and other important objectives and advantages of the inventionwill be more fully understood upon a reading of the followingspecifications, taken in view of the attached drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a diagramatic-schematic view of the working elements of thisinvention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged elevation view of the switching device withportions of its interior broken away to disclose the idling or lights-onposition of the switching elements;

FIGURE 3 is similar to FIGURE 2, showing the switch elements when thebraking lights are off; and

FIGURE 3a is a partial showing of a further embodi ment of theinvention.

Referring now with more particularity to the drawings wherein likenumerals indicate like parts, the numeral indicates a conventionalcarburetor having a throttle control arm 12 pivotally mounted theretoabout a pin 14-. As is well known in the art, a throttle baffie 16,interiorally of the throttle, is secured to pin 14 for rotationtherewith as determined by the angular disposition of the throttlecontrol arm 12. This angular disposition is determined by the vehicleaccelerator pedal 15 which is connected to the arm via a conventionallinkage 18. As shown in FIGURE 1, a pedal normally maintains theaccelerator pedal fully raised. When in this position the throttlecontrol arm is generally vertical, and the bafile 14 is substantiallyblocking (idling position) the fuel path to the intake manifold. Alinkage movement to the right in the direction indicated by arrow causesarm 12 to pivot counterclockwise adjustably opening the manifold fuelpath controlled by the baffle 16. A series of stops and the likeassociated with the above, but not believed necessary to thisdescription, limit the displacement of these members.

A bracket 22 is secured to the exterior of the carburetor in thevicinity of arm 1 and is formed with a threaded opening 24 having acentral axis normal to arm 12 when the arm is in its idling position.Threadably received in bore 24 is a switch 26, a cross section of whichis shown in FIGURE 2. The switch is of an off-on type and is in serieswith an ignition 28, warning lights 30 and the electric power supply 32.The network is electrically connected by the lines 31 and 33.

The switch is formed of a cylindrical housing 34 having a threadedextension 36 at one end thereof. The interior of the housing is formedwith a passageway 40 ICC which slidably receives an operating shaft 42.The operating shaft is flanged at 44 at that end remote from extension36. At its end 38, the housing 34 is formed with an annular groove 39.This end is closed by bottom member 46 which has a skirt section 41press-fitted into groove 39. The member 46 forms a chamber 43 with end38 into which a pin 48 extends. On opposite sides of pin 48 are spacedcontact points 50 and 52 which have conducting lead pins 54 and 56extending to the exterior of the switch housing.

A spring biasing member 58 surrounding the pin 48 normally maintains adiscus shaped concave bridging member 60 out of engagement with thecontact points 50 and 52 and into engagement with shaft end 44.

The operation of the inventive structure is not complicated. As theaccelerator pedal is depressed arm 12 pivots in a counterclockwisedirection away from engagement with the shaft 42. As the operatorpermits the accelerator pedal to assume its idling position, arm 12contacts shaft 42 which consequently depresses spring 60 so thatbridging member 58 will complete the circuit to the warning lights 3%.In other words, the warning lights will always be operating when theignition is On and the throttle assembly is at its Idle or Near-Idleposition.

FIGURE 3:: shows a further embodiment of the invention wherein theswitch element is comprised of members 45' and 36' which are threadedlysecured to the housing 34' at 55'. The pins 54 and 56 are supported inthe non-conducting member 46' which is secured to member 45 by anadhesive or press-fit.

In a general manner, while there has been disclosed an effective andefficient embodiment of the invention, it should be well understood thatthe invention is not limited to such an embodiment, as there might bechanges made in the arrangement, disposition and form of the partswithout departing from the principle of the present invention ascomprehended within the scope of the accompanying claim.

I claim:

A switching device for actuating the braking warning lights of a vehiclein response to carburetor valve arm positions, said valve arm being of atype movable in concert with the butterfiy plate of said carburetorbetween an idling position and an accelerating position, comprising incombination, a bracket having an opening therethrough,

- means removably attaching said bracket to said carbu retor, saidopening having a central axis substantially perpendicular to said valvearm when said arm is in its idling position, a switch housing having anexterior receivable in said opening and a chamber defined therein havinga closed end and a substantially disposed axial opening extending fromsaid chamber toward said arm, said chamber being formed by asubstantially cup-shaped closure member removably secured with respectto a section of the switch housing, said section having across-sectional area greater than said closure member and terminating ina substantially planar surfaced end wall, a groove in said planarsurfaced end wall substantially of the same thickness as the walls ofthe closure for securely receiving the same, a pair of spaced contactsin said chamber at said closed end, a pair of conduction leadsrespectively connected to said contacts and extending to the exterior ofsaid housing, a member for bridging said contacts, said contacts whenbridged completing the electrical circuit to said lights, a springnormally biasing said member away from said contacts, said closed endbeing formed with an annular groove to position said spring, anelongated shaft slidably received by said chamber having an inner end incontact with said member and an outer end extending through said axialopening into engagement with said arm as said arm approaches its idlingposition and said shaft having a length causing said member to bridgesaid contacts against the bias of said spring when said arm assumes saididling position, said member being formed with a concave depressionfacing said closed end and said depression being circumscribed by anon-interrupted peripheral flange having a diameter the same as thedistance between said contacts, and wherein the chamber of said housingbeing formed with an inner ledge intermediate its ends and said shaftbeing formed with an enlarged head at its inner end and said head beingdisposed between said closed end and said ledge.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Wolffsohn 200-465Meuer 200--165 Markham 20059 Milster ZOO-61.89

Rosenberg ZOO-61.89 Chesler ZOO-61.89

10 BERNARD A. GILHEANY, Primary Examiner.

